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Stephen Robinson has no midfield concerns despite David Turnbull exit

Turnbull left Motherwell to join Celtic this week.

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson has no concerns about his midfield after having a proven replacement for David Turnbull ready to step in.

Liam Polworth earned a recall hours after Turnbull completed a move to Celtic and the 25-year-old scored in Thursday's 5-1 Europa League win over Glentoran.

The former Inverness player joined Motherwell last summer and, although not possessing the same goal threat as Turnbull, weighed in with a number of assists as Robinson's side enjoyed an impressive campaign while their Scotland Under-21 international recovered from knee surgery.

Polworth was sacrificed for Turnbull after the opening game of the season but has not had long to wait for Motherwell to bring in their record transfer fee and a place in the team to open up again.

Robinson, whose side travel to Celtic Park on Sunday, said: "We finished third without David last year. Liam Polworth has already shown his quality. I thought his deliveries on Thursday night were absolutely superb. Somebody get on the end of them, please.

"But he has shown he can step in. David is an excellent footballer, he is very, very difficult to replace but Poly has shown that he can step up.

"We have Allan (Campbell), Mark (O'Hara) and Liam Donnelly to come back as well. So I think we're OK in midfield."

Turnbull has been included in Celtic's squad and could make his debut against his former team as Neil Lennon looks for a lift following their Champions League defeat by Ferencvaros.

"Hopefully not," said Robinson when asked about the prospect of facing Turnbull. "Listen, whoever Celtic put on the pitch, they are going to have players of that calibre and match-winners.

"So we know it will be a difficult game, no matter what result they had on Wednesday night, it doesn't matter. They are a top, top side and we have to be right at the top of our game.

"Hopefully Thursday has buoyed a lot of our players. Strikers feed off goals and hopefully that will kick-start a few people into form."

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4 3
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(ret.)
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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